ATOSEDIT selectively picks messages out of an AUTOSIG incoming or saved message file. ATOSEDIT is useful for reducing the size of saved message files, or for extracting single or groups of messages for specific purposes.

ATOSEDIT is a separate program which allows you to selectively pick messagesout of an AUTOSIG incoming or saved message file. These are files with namesof the form:

M.ATO incoming message file andS.ATO saved message file

such as IBMCOMS.ATO and IBMCOMM.ATO. You may run ATOSEDIT from DOS, or fromAUTOSIG's SHELL capability ("E" from the Forum Menu).

ATOSEDIT is useful for reducing the size of saved message files, or forextracting single or groups of messages for specific purposes.

-----------DESCRIPTION-----------

ATOSEDIT is simple to operate. You give it the complete DOS file name of anincoming or saved message file as input, and another DOS file name to save theoutput result. Any drive or directory can be used for either file.

Messages are displayed one at a time, with multi-screen messages having apaging capability.

On each message screen, you can do the following:

Ins (or Enter) = Save the current message to the output file.

Del (or "D") = Skip the current message and go on to the next one.

\ or / = Search (case-insensitive or case-sensitive) for text. When the text is found, the search stops and displays the message containing the text.

F3 = Continue an active search

F1 = Save the current message to yet a third file. You are prompted for the filename. This is *very* useful if using a single message as input to a new message, because you can then use AUTOSIG's message editor to import this file.

PgUp/PgDn = If a message takes more than one screen, this allows you Up/Dn Arrows to view all of it, scrolling a page or a line at a time.

Esc = Stop where you are, saving only those messages chosen thus far.

Tab = Stop choosing messages, and save the remainder of the input file to the output file.

S = Disable or enable the audible prompts.

When you use Esc or Tab to stop the message choice operation, you can thenswitch the input and output files, and optionally delete the input file. Oryou may leave the input and output files as they are. (If nothing was writtento the output file, it is not saved.)

The program then prompts you for a new pair of input and output files; a nullresponse terminates.

---------OPERATION---------

ATOSEDIT is packaged in a self-extracting archive file, called ATOSnn.EXE,where nn is the release number. The following files are contained in thearchive.

ATOSEDIT.EXE The program ATOSEDIT.DOC This document

If you are in AUTOSIG, from the Forum Menu, type "E" to SHELL to DOS.

From terminal mode, type Alt-E.

From the message viewer, type Alt-E.

WARNING: It is not advisable to cause ATOSEDIT to *change* the contents of an AUTOSIG file while being "R"ead (new messages) or "V"iewed as saved messages, since unexpected results may occur when returning to AUTOSIG. This is because the file you are reading or viewing won't be the same when you return to where you left off.

At DOS, type ATOSEDIT.

If you stay in the same directory with AUTOSIG, ATOSEDIT's screen colors willmatch those of AUTOSIG, otherwise, black and white are used. If you are inanother directory and want AUTOSIG's colors, copy your AUTOSIG.DFN file to thedirectory you will run from.

If your AUTOSIG.DFN file is your current directory, you are also given a listof valid message files to look at, which have been matched against your currentlist of fora.

When prompted, enter the name of the input and output files. Enter by itselfquits the program. If the output file exists, you are given options to overwrite it or append to the end of it.

At the message screen, follow the prompts on the screen.

--------PROBLEMS--------

I can be reached by CompuServe mail, 71141,1224, with comments or problems.

-------SUMMARY-------

I hope you enjoy ATOSEDIT, and that it makes your AUTOSIG experience ahappy one! Let me know if you have suggestions for improvements!